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Serum Albumin

Meaning

Serum albumin is the most prevalent protein in human blood plasma, synthesized exclusively within the liver. Its critical physiological functions include maintaining oncotic pressure, which is essential for regulating fluid distribution between blood vessels and tissues, and serving as a major non-specific transport protein. Albumin reversibly binds and carries numerous substances, including steroid hormones, fatty acids, and many therapeutic drugs. Clinically, its concentration is a key indicator of liver synthetic capacity and overall nutritional status, with changes significantly affecting the free, biologically active fraction of circulating hormones.